Banteay Meanchey (FN), Feb. 26 – Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had made the rightest decision to lead a working visit to Republic of China on 5 February 2020 amid Covid-19 outbreak.

He spoke Wednesday at inauguration ceremony of National Road 58, held in Poipet city, which he co-chaired with Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian.

The premier highly commended China for not cancelling the road construction project under the Belt and Road Initiative despite being attacked by the deadly virus Covid-19.

Premier Hun Sen pledged to stay with China through easy and hard time. He reaffirmed to President Xi Jinping that Cambodia will not evacuate its officials and students from China nor ban the Chinese flights to the Kingdom.

“It is injustice that when we face problem, we run to China for assistance but when China faces problem, we run away from China.”

During the visit, Prime Minister Hun Sen told the top Chinese leaders that there were three main purposes of his visit: (1) to show solidarity with the Chinese government and people in difficult moment; (2) to strengthen the spirit and belief of Cambodian people and students to keep staying in China while the Chinese authorities are taking concrete actions to tackle its Challenges caused by the spread of Coronavirus; and (3) to send a message to Cambodian people not to have more fears than the level of danger of Coronavirus, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press release dated 7 February.

The premier also expressed his condolences and symphathy on the loss of lives of people infected with the virus, and expressed his support for and praised the Chinese government for taking concrete and effective measures to treat the victims and prevent the spread of the disease to other areas in China and around the world.

In return, the Chinese top leaders expressed their appreciation for Cambodia's spirit of solidary and cooperation with the government and the people of China as a steel-based friendship and a partnership in building communities with shared future.

President Xi and Premier Li pledged to urge Chinese companies to increase more investment in Cambodia and continue to provide more assistance for Cambodia’s development including the development in Sihanoukville.

“Only the toughest grass can stand strong wind. Only a true friend stays during difficult time.”

Cambodia’s stand in fighting against the epidemic has once again demonstrated that Cambodia is an “ironclad” friend of China, and that China and Cambodia are truly a community of shared future through thick and thin.
=FRESH NEWS